What Stuart Kettlewell expects from ‘incredible’ Celtic and what surprised Motherwell boss about Tannadice
The manager of the Steel Men will head to Glasgow with his side in fourth spot after a strong start to their season so far.
Well have earned eight wins from 17 in the league thus far and are arguably punching above their weight with Kettlewell getting his stars motoring.
This week brings a different challenge altogether for the club, though, the toughest fixture of any Scottish Premiership club’s season away at Parkhead.
And Kettlewell knows it.
He watched Brendan Rodgers‘ side fail to break down Dundee United despite a dominant performance where they had 17 attempts on goal.
It was an uninspired 90 minutes of football but that took Kettlewell by surprise.
The former Ross County gaffer was shocked by Celtic‘s lack of cutting edge as they failed to hit the net in a goalless draw.
And he insists it was odd to see Celts fail to score as their consistency levels have been off the chart.
The likes of Luis Palma struggled and was criticised after the Tannadice clash while Chris Sutton sent a clear message to the fringe players who failed to impress.
And while Brendan Rodgers praised two “excellent” performers, Kettlewell knows it’s his Motherwell side who can expect a potential backlash.
“I just always expect Celtic to be their best version. I just think that their level of consistency for such a long time has been incredible,” the boss said.
“They constantly pose you a threat.
“I think you can see that relentless nature in how they attack games of football. Maybe one or two will talk about it not being their best performance.
“A bit of a surprise not to see them in the scoresheet in any game of football, no matter who they’re playing against, with the quality that they have.
“It’s not so much that I expect a reaction, I just expect Celtic to do what they’ve been doing for a number of years now.
“And finding that level of consistency and being incredibly difficult to go and play against at Celtic Park.”
